Fire stop



R. M. DYAR.

FIRE STOP.

\PPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1921.

1,433,606 Patented Oct. 31, 11922.

Patented 'Uet. Bl i922.

RALPH M. DYAR, 0F GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MICHIGAN.

FIRE STOIP.

Application filed June 6, 1921. Serial No. 475,507.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH M. DYAR, a a citizen of the United States,residing at Grosse Pointe Farms, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement Comprising the FireStop, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to building construction. In the standard forms ofwooden building construction, it is common practice to provide a framework of wall studs and floor joists upon which are mounted the surfacemembers such as the flooring, exterior siding, and the interior lath andplaster finish for the walls and ceilings. The hollow wall and floorspaces resulting from this type of construction form a considerable firehazard as they act as flues through which flames may be transmitted andthrough which a draft may be established.

It is common practice to provide fire stops in these spaces, these firestops closing the space so that it is impossible to get any considerabledraft therethrough. These fire stops are commonly secured at either endto the studding and joists by means of nails, screws or other fasteners.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a fire stop whichmay be used in wooden building construction and which may be secured inplace without the use of any fastening other than that forming a portionof the stop itself, and which can be secured in place in locations inwhich the workman could not find space to provide the ordinary securingmeans.

It is also a further object of my invention to provide a fire stop whichmay be cheaply formed from fire resisting materials, and which may beinstalled with a minimum expenditure of labor, thereby providing a muchcheaper and more effective fire stop installation. A still furtherobject is the provision of an article of this nature which will also beof utility as diagonal bracing for reinforcing the structure in which itis used.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a building with myinvention installed therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan 'view of a fire stop embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a section on a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View illustrating a preferred method of installing the firestops between the building members.

In the form of the invention shown, 11 is a floor of a buildingsupported upon joists 12 and supporting a wall 13 carried on studs 14:.In the drawing the lath and plaster forming the side of the wall nearestthe observer has been removed to better illustrate the invention.

Fire stops embodying my invention are shown at 20, 21 and 22, thoseillustrated being of the preferred form consisting of metal plates 25formed of sheet iron and stamped with longitudinal corrugationsfurnishing stiffening ribs 31 so that the fire stop will remainsubstantially flat at all times. Formed upon the ends of the fire stopare a plurality of prongs or teeth 32 which are sufficiently sharp toengage the members 12 and 14: between which they are installed.

The particular feature to which I desire to direct especial attentionresides in the development of the conception of a fire stop which shallconsist of a plate of suitable fire resisting material ofslightly-greater length than the distance between the wall and floormembers and having its abutting edges suitably prepared to engage thesurfaces of the members between which the fire stop is to be used; whichfire stop, owing to the aforesaid condition, may be installed with aconsiderable economy of labor as will be hereinafter described.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing I have illustrated the manner in which the firestops may' be easily installed, it being understood that the membersindicated as 40 and 41 are floor joists or wall studs in the frameworkof a building under construction before the surface members have beenapplied. One of the engaging ends 42 is placed against the member 10 andthe fire stop caused to assume the position indicated by the dottedlines 43 with the opposite engaging end 45 resting against the member11, such position being necessarily diagonal as the fire stop is longerthan the distance between the engaged faces of the members 40 and 4:1.

A block 46 is placed upon that flat portion 47 from which the teeth 32extend and by striking the block as indicated by the arrow 50 the end 45is driven down to the position indicated in full lines 51. The wedgingaction of the stop in being thus driven in place forces the members and41 apart as illustrated by the dotted lines 55. Several blows of ahammer then delivered as indicated by the arrow- 60 will cause the teeth32 to become firmly embedded at 65 in the surface of the Wooden members.Although the installation of the firestops would be somewhat simplifiedby leaving the end smooth so that less friction would be incurred indriving same into place, the expediency is not so pronounced as to causethe adoption of that typeas the preferred form, as the formation ofteeth upon both ends is accompanied by cheaper cost of manufacture owingto the fact that they may be made complementary in a continuous smallopenings 33 for the passage of electrical conduits and pipes 34 may beprovided in the fire stops, and it may be further desirable to sealaround the pipes 33 to form a more perfect obstruction of the passage.

I claim as my invention: 1

1. A fire stop for obstructing passages between building members,comprlsingz a flat metal plate slightly longer than the space in whichsaid plate is to be secured, and means on the ends of the plate forlooking it in position by moving it from an oblique towards a rightangled relation to said building members.

2. A fire stop for obstructing passages between building members,comprising: a

stamping process If desired,

flat plate slightly longer than the space in which said plate 1s to besecured; and means on said late for looking it to said members bywedging said late between the members.

3. A fire stop or obstructing passages between building members,comprising: a flat plate slightly longer than the space in which saidplate is to be secured, said plate having longitudinal stiffening ribsformed therein; and means on said plate for looking it to sald membersby wedging it between the members.

4. A fire stop for obstructing passages between building members,comprising: a flat plate slightly longer than the space in which saidplate is to be secured; and prongs formed on each end of said plate.

5. A fire stop for obstructing passages between building members,comprising: a flat plate slightly longer than the space in wh ch saidplate is tobe secured, said plate having stiffening ribs formed therein;and prongs formed on each end of said plate.

6. The combination with the studding or joists of a building of a firestop adapted to be placed in the space between said studding consistingof: a metal plate of a length greater t an the Width of said space, sothat its ends will contact the members while standing obliquely thereto;and means on the ends of the stop which will lock the same in place bymoving it from its oblique relation toward a right angled relation tosaid members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 26th day of May, 1921.

- RALPH M. DYAR.

